Indigenous Waste Management Solutions

Warraber Island, Torres Strait, QLD – Over three years, APC led a consultative project to develop and implement a waste management pilot project on Warraber Island, Torres Strait. As a result, waste was reduced by 66 per cent (by weight) and recovery rates of 86 per cent for food-waste separation and 85 per cent for cardboard were achieved, which are best-practice outcomes. It is hoped that the pilot project will become the cornerstone of new waste practices to be introduced to another 15 outer islands, as well as Thursday Island and the indigenous communities on the northern peninsula of Cape York when funds are available. APC partnered with Aurecon to develop the feasibility study for improved waste management for this region.

Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY Lands), SA – Zero Waste South Australia (ZWSA) and the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division (DPC-AARD), with funding from Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) engaged APC to undertake The Regional Waste Management Priorities and Implementation Plan (RWMP&IP) — also known as ‘The Rubbish Report’— for the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. The project sought to develop a strategic approach to reduce waste, increase recovery of resources and improve landfill management across the region. The final report includes 70 recommendations and provides a framework and basic level of service needed to improve waste collection and disposal in the area, based on budget allocation priorities.
Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula, QLD – Following a pilot waste management project developed on Warraber Island in Torres strait APC partnered with Aurecon to develop the feasibility study for improved waste management for the entire region, which includes indigenous communities on the northern peninsula of Cape York, 15 outer islands is Torres Strait and commercial centres of Thursday and Horn Islands. Background and options papers were prepared and presented to stakeholders prior to the development of the final report.